Electric pulse regenerator



March 16, 1954 p, A, H ROUSSEL 2,672,554

ELECTRIC PULSE REGENERTOR Filed DGO. 5, 1951 Patented Mar. 16, 1954 UNITED STATS ArtNr OFFICE ELECTRIC PULSE REGENERATOR Delaware Application'December 3, 1951, Serial No. 259,665

(Cl. Z50-27) 14 Claims.

This invention relates to electric pulse regenerators, i. e., devices which receive more or less distorted pulses and retransmit pulses having the correct shape. In general, the regenerated pulse is out of phase by a certain amount with respect to the orignal pulse, and one of the objects of the invention consists in obtaining a regenerated pulse which is produced only after the original pulse has ended.

One of the features of the invention consists in charging a condenser with the received pulse and feeding to the control grid of a tube the charging voltage of said condenser, in order to prepare said tube for operation, means being provided to make it operate at a suitable instant and to block it after a certain length of time, the regenerated pulse being obtained from said tube.

Another feature of the invention is based on the fact that the charging voltage of the condenser is fed to the control grid of a vacuum tube in order to prepare this tube for operation, said tube becoming conductive only when there is added to the charging voltage of the condenser a voltage obtained from an auxiliary pulse source, the start of the regenerated pulse then coinciding with the instant said auxiliary source emits a pulse.

Another feature of the invention consists in causing the tube to operate by means of a pulse which is short as compared with the pulse to be regenerated, a feedback circuit being provided for keeping the tube in operation after the short pulse which caused it to operate has ended.

Another feature of the invention. consists in using a pentode tube and in blocking said tube by means of an auxiliary pulse source connected to the suppressor grid, the end of the regenerated pulse then coinciding with the instant said auxiliary source emits a pulse.

The pulse regenerator may be used in a number of systems and, in particular, in an electronic selection system such as that described in U. S. patent application Serial No. 168,072, filed June 14, 1950. In this system it is possible to eliminate the regeneration of the pulses in the director, replace it with simple amplification, and provide in the register a regenerator in accordance with the invention, which sends back a regenerated pulse the instant following the one in which the pulse is received.

Fig. l shows a pulse regenerator in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2, a diagram of time-position pulses used in the regenerator of Fig, `1.

2 With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a detailed description of the pulse regenerator covered by the invention will now be given. Regenerator' RG, shown in Fig. 1, has two input terminals Bell, Bel2, and a certain number of output terminal pairs BsII, BsIZ, BsI3, BSM. The pulse to be regenerated is applied to input terminals Bel I, Bel2 and the regenerated pulses are taken from output terminals BsII, BsIZ-BsIS, BsI4. Several pairs of output terminals have been provided in order to obtain regenerated pulses of various amplitudes. Two pairs of output terminals are shown, but it is obvious that others could have been provided. Terminals Bel 3, BeI4, and Bcl are connected to sources DI, F2, and FIO, respectively, which produce the short pulses shown in the diagram of Fig. 2. Source DI is normally at a potential of 50 volts, but at a given instant t2, it produces a positive pulse having a potential of +50 volts. Source F2 is normally at ground potential (taken as reference potential), but at a given instant t3 it produces a negative pulse having a potential of volts. Source FID is normally at ground potential, but at instant t5 produces a negative pulse having a potential of 100 volts. These potentials are given by way of example, it being possible to use other potentials; The length of the pulses obtained from sources DI, F2, and FID is short as compared with the length of the pulse I1 to be regenerated.

The pulse I1 to be regenerated, which may bev more or less distorted, is applied to input terminals BeII and Be|2 of regenerator RG. This pulse begins at instant tI and ends at instant t2. It raises the potential of terminal Bel I from 48 volts to 16 volts, and condenser CdII charges (it will be agreed that said condenser is discharged when its upper terminal has a potential of 48 volts and its lower terminal is at ground potential, and that it is charged when the potential of its upper terminal changes from 48 volts to 16 volts). v

When condenser Cdl I is completely charged, the upper terminal of said condenser is therefore raised to a potential of 16 volts. Said condenser CdI I, and the internal impedance of the pulse generator (not shown), have a time constant of the order of magnitude of the length of the pulse to be regenerated.

The potential of the upper terminal of condenser Cdl I, i. e., 16 volts, is applied through rectifiers RdII and Rdl2 to the main control This tube is so ybiased that no current flows in its plate circuit when said potential of -16 volts is applied to it. In the example under consideration, the grid is assumed to be biased by a potential of -48 Volts, applied through resistance Rel I. The screen grid of tube II is supplied with a certain potential which, in the example under consideration, is assumedtto be 200fvolts; 'the .suppressor grid is connected' through rectierfRd I 3 `and terminal BeI5 to pulse source FID. At the instant under consideration, namely, when pulse Il ends and condenser CdII is charged, source..FIO.,does.not emit any pulse and the suppressor grid oftube VII is grounded through resistancerRe t2,f.on the one hand, and through rectifier lfRdtS, con :the other.

At instant t2, generator DI emits a short pulse I4 having an amplitude oi wovoltauwhiehfis applied through resistance Re I 3 to the voltage-limiting device consisting of rectifiers Rdt-vand RdIl.

ePointzptI 2A of :the voltage :limiterccan :neither tbe :brought `to...a@potential@greater than aground lgipotentalznor tofagpotential less; than 48avo1ts. .1.Ii,;foresome :reason for` other, the potential @of point .pt L2 -became .positive, :current ,would How athroughrectiler Rd 11S; :and .since .the :forward resistance: :of said rectier r .may i' :be regarded .ras fbeingw negligible, pointy .pt l21rwould :remain at'.v ap- .proximatelysgrounds potential. Likewise, if, :for l.some reason; or: .otheni-the;:potentialof4 point-'pt I2 idropped below -48 volts, :current 'Would-:flow .throughf rectierfRdI 'lfand saidk pointant t2fwould remainatea `.potential'.sulostantially-ecpialto 44S volts. When :source DI emits 1a pulse having :za potential \:of-,-le50 volts, fthe .potential `:of point gpt H ipasses from e481 voltsvto: Y volti itsctwolimitinjg values. Nevertheless, fthe;potential '.ofzthe :right-:hand yterminal of :condenserzCd I Efidoesrnot :increase-aboveeefvolts. .Wire flI Ifrhas infact ra Icertain::capacityr C1113 withfrespect t-o ground, -condensersfcl {12,f Cd t3 :them-forming, for aalterrnatingfcurrents; accapacitive .voltages divider. In fpractice, when `generator DI Af-emits 'aa f. pulse;v the ,potential of; point :pt t4 f increases from 16:;to .-0

amplitudes cfg pulsesfz iandrilacare. different. fin j,

the .example rdescribed iti is :assumed .that :the .famplitudefoflz was :32 fvolts fand that pf is, -50 volts.

'fAt '..thez same time, a Acertain voltage is i pro- ?.duced in thefuppernleftfhand Windingrofttrans .former TRI I. ."llhisv voltage is applied. tothernain ncontrol g'gridcof -the .tube-VII v.th'rcugh rectifier RdIll, said tube then remaining conductiuevat :instant t3 @when pulse I4,-zsentfbyffgeneratorDI has :ended Gurrent f-ccntinues to .fflow t in V the plate circuit pf tube I I fand: pulses "I2 Sand :'13 tare .still obtainedrom 'rout-put terminals iBsl I .BsIZ-Bsl, BSM.

.CondensernGdI 2 risa variable. condenser. .The capacitance of this. .condenser canfibefvariedsso as .toa adustthe;sensitivitynofe tube .VI I iin, practicevit would .be-adjusted'so that tubeVIIopserates only .When tthe'gpulse:received#atttlaetterlLrninalsJBeIl,..l3r|2rhas an `annalitude off-at least ,L16 lvolts.

At instant t3, source F2, which is normally at ground potential, emits a negative pulse Is having an amplitudeof 100 volts. This pulse is applied through terminal Belli and resistance Reid to point 102513, but the potential of said ,IOLGdIL rectiers Rdll and Rdl and point ptl3 .atmotentialtof -48 Volts. Condenser CdII is "therefore'in the same condition as when the regeneratori-masrnctpperating.

At:instantr-tgeneratcr FII'I emits a short .'15 rpulsetfterminal'BeI5 then being at a potential oi 100 volts. fCurrent then flows through .the following .circuit-,ground resistance ReIZ, rectier RdIS and terminal Bei5 at a potential of 2190 volts The forward resistance of rectifier 20 RdIB is assumed to bemegligible with respect to resistance;.-Rel'2,r soi= jnnctionapoint :.ptl I 1 between .-said. resistance-:and saidrrectieriisfrat. aipotenitialcof ..tOOw/tolts. v.The characteristicssofftube Vi I varesuchzthatfsaid A:tube isacut: oil; Hpulses`- I2 tan`d lila, .taken from terminals :BSI I, GBsI2 ABs I `3, IiBs I Il, zfrespectively, then. rend.

:Whenxpulse Is, emitted bytgenerator" FIlLlhas uended; the .rregenerator .oflig. l isi in.' the. vsame condition as at the beginningfof IthefDperatiOn,

f3() :and :is: ready-l' torregenerateoanother apulse.

ItA isfseen'ffromv the :above.remolanationthatl the ,fregeneratedi pulses taken; fromv output terminals :.Bsl I and BsI2-BsL3, .-Bsld :can rbegin 1 at any rinstant;providedicondenserlCdl I .fis fully charged,

25 mha-leading: edge. or saidfpulsesvdependingf oni. the

instant source4 DI semits: a zpulse. .Likewise, -tthe regenerated pulses canrendzamanyf giveninstant,

which depends only on the instant short-pulse :sourcert 15a-pulse Inzparticularfit is 40 possible, as 4inthe described-example! tofprovide f.arrangementsWherebythe regenerated pulse; 'bevagiles-.only aftertthe: received-pulse? has' completely sanded.

Rectiiers `Rdl2f.;and R'd tirare providedto'pre- 4dvent anyr mixing ibetxiveenrtheV circuit-Fieeding' the fpulses:tofthea'mainftcontrol gridcf2 tube VI I #and 'ithei feedbackscircuit enabling :the -tubetoreina-in conductive. Rectifier Rdld prevents the ndisrchargeicurrentnof :condenser :Cdl I from flowing U :the rpperelefthand rwindingvof transformer ITRI I .Rectier RdI'Zxprevents' thefeedbaclvcur- :rentl:frornfreturriiingtoscondenser2 Cdl I. '-"In'like rmanner, rectien tzprevents any untimely operation :of source.l Ez'iwvhen: the".i latter is notf'emit- 5 rtingrpulses.

.alf .itmis assumed that'therthree: auXiliary;.pii-lse :sources aDIViiEZ and FIU periodically emit the same pulsed:l the fabcve fcycler of I*operations can trbe'repeate'd indefinitely.

o The devices-made zupgonrthe onehandfofrre- `sistanee Re LEianidy rectier-'R'd IIS -and;on .the other, ofz'rectier: Rd I'9.' ,.fare'f providedfto `eliminate any t.parasitic'oscillations= thatfmight'f be 'startedewhen ttubeVII fis out o'if. :Said v'devices I'short circuit .fevery other half cyclegthuseeliminating suchpareasitic oscillations.

fWhatis claimed:

-A pulse -regenerator comprising an input A'circuit fand yan" output f' circuit, hmeans connected 70 vilto said-input circuitfforstoring a'puse received thereby, means 'fun'der "control rof f' said storing .meansz for causin-gncurrent-italicay insaid output circuit at a time subsequentfto ithe* storing-of :said ipulse, nneazns @control-led r`Joy "the ecurrent in su said output circuit forzmaintaining-said current independently of said last mentioned means, and means independent of said current causing means and said current maintaining means for stopping said current at a predetermined time after the operation of said current causing means.

2. A pulse regenerator, as defined in claim 1, in which the means for causing current to flow in the output circuit comprises a thermionic tube having a control electrode connected to the storing means and means for yapplying a potential to said electrode in addition to any potential which might be applied by said storing means to cause said tube to operate.

3. A pulse regenerator, as defined in claim 2, in which the pulse storing means is a condenser connected to the control electrode of the thermionic tube.

4. A pulse regenerator, as dened in claim 3, in which the means for maintaining the current in the output circuit independently of the means for causing the current flow comprises a transformer in said output circuit having a secondary Winding connected to the control electrode and a unidirectional current-carrying device connected between the pulse storing means and said control electrode and poled so as to prevent a drop of potential on said storing means from affecting said electrode.

5. A pulse regenerator, as defined in claim 4, further comprising means for discharging the condenser of the storing means without affecting the operation of the tube.

6. A pulse regenerator, as defined in claim 5, in which the tube has a suppressor electrode and the means for stopping the current at a predetermined time comprises means for applying a negative pulse to said suppressor electrode at a predetermined time after the operation of the current causing means.

7. A pulse regenerator, as defined in claim 6, in which the means for discharging the condenser comprises means for applying a negative pulse across said condenser.

8. A pulse regenerator, as defined in claim 7, further comprising means for preventing oscillations in the secondary winding of the transformer.

9. A pulse regenerator, as dened in claim l, further comprising means for restoring the storing means to its condition prior to the receipt of an incoming pulse.

l0. A pulse regenerator, as dei-ined in claim l, in which the means for causing current to iiow in the output circuit comprises a thermionic tube having a control electrode connected to the input circuit, and an anode connected to the output circuit and means for applying a positive pulse to said electrode in addition to any potential which might be applied by the storing means to cause the tube to operate.

11. A pulse regenerator, as dened in claim 10, in which the pulse storing means is .a condenser connected to the control electrode of the thermionic tube and means is provided for discharging said condenser after the operation of the means for causing the current to ow.

12. A pulse regenerator, as defined in claim 11, in which the thermionic tube is provided with a suppressor electrode and the means for stopping the current flow in the output circuit comprises means for applying a negative pulse to said suppressor electrode so as to shut 01T said tube.

13. A pulse regenerator, as dened in claim 12, in which the means for discharging the condenser Without affecting the operation of the tube comprises a unidirectional device connected between the control electrode of said tube and the storing condenser and so poled that a drop in potential at the condenser below that of the control electrode will not affect the potential of the control electrode.

14. A pulse regenerator, comprising a thermionic tube having a cathode, an anode, a control electrode, and a suppressor electrode, means for receiving an incoming pulse, a condenser connected to said means whereby said condenser is charged when a pulse is received, means connected between said control electrode and said condenser'and including a unidirectional device being poled so as to permit an increase in potential on said condenser to produce .an increase of potential on said control electrode, means for applying to said control electrode through said unidirectional device a positive pulse at a time subsequent to the receipt of an incoming pulse,

said positive pulse having a potential which when added to the potential on said condenser will cause the operation of said tube, a transformer having a primary winding connected in the anodecathode circuit of said tube and at least two secondary windings, means for electrically connecting one of said secondary windings to said control electrode whereby the initiation of current in said anode-cathode circuit will produce a positive potential on said control electrode so as to continue the operation of said tube, means for applying a negative pulse to said suppressor electrode so as to cut off said tube, and means for applying a negative pulse to said condenser to discharge said condenser at a time prior to the operation of said tube.

PAUL ANTOINE HENRI ROUSSEL.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

